[UPDATE: Piquet Jr has confirmed on social media that he has officially signed with Team China]. Formula E – the global electric race car series backed by Richard Branson, Leonardo DiCaprio and a host of big names in motor racing – is getting ready to launch in Beijing on September 13 and almost everything is set…except for the identity of Team China Racing’s two drivers. But China Sports Insider can reveal that Nelson Piquet Jr and Ho-Pin Tung are due to be named as the drivers in the coming days.
Nelson Piquet Jr

But the one constant that remains is China’s antipathy to Grand Prix racing. The race at the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday will be the 11th consecutive Chinese Grand Prix held there, with current or former world champions winning eight out of the previous 10 races. But after the initial buzz, reality set in.

Leonardo DiCaprio is on his way to Beijing. That’s because the Hollywood heartthrob has co-founded the tenth and final Formula E team – the new electric race car series backed by the FIA, which kicks off in the Chinese capital next year.

Former Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong had a massive crash during the qualifying session on Saturday at the Macau race finale for the 2013 Audi R8 LMS Cup. Fortunately he was unhurt and walked away from the car.

Welcome to the first of what will be a series of videocasts with the people who matter in the Chinese sports industry, everyone from athletes and officials to executives and agents.

We kick things off with a discussion with top Chinese motor racing drivers Franky Cheng Congfu and Adderly Fong about the state of motorsports in China today, how soon China can expect to see a team or driver in F1, and which drivers are better – those from Hong Kong or the mainland!